Beating suspect to get new attorney

A Vacaville man ordered to stand trial on a voluntary manslaughter charge related to a July 4 beating that led to the death of another man appeared in court briefly Monday.

Anthony J. Ruiz, 32, of Vacaville, appeared for his arraignment following a probable-cause hearing held in February in which he was ordered to stand trial on a charge related to the death of 20-year-old Vacaville resident Tyler Grande. Ruiz, who appeared with his defense counsel, Santa Rosa criminal defense attorney Evan E. Zelig did not enter a plea.

Zelig informed the court that he would not be representing Ruiz at trial and asked that the Solano County Public Defender's Office be appointed.

The arraignment was rescheduled for 9 a.m. on April 15.

Testimony during the February hearing indicated that Ruiz struck Tyler Grande, 20, during a July 4 celebration on Garden Circle, shortly after a fight broke out.

According to testimony, a witness at the scene told police that Grande had been sucker punched while trying to break up a fight.

The investigation led police to obtain an arrest warrant for Ruiz, who was interviewed by police detectives on Aug. 10.

Police testified at the preliminary hearing that Ruiz admitted to being at the Garden Circle celebration and was watching the fight unfold.

Feeling like a group of people was about to "rush" him, Ruiz told officers that he punched one of the men, sending him to the ground, according to testimony.

Zelig argued Ruiz had acted on the belief that his life was in danger.